In a collaborative push towards environmental sustainability, One Earth, an organization focused on innovative climate solutions, has been recognized as a finalist for the GAEA Awards, which will be held in December 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Global Alliance for Earth Action (GAEA) honors outstanding contributions in climate action, and One Earth’s projects on carbon offsetting and biodiversity preservation have received notable endorsements from various stakeholders, including governments and NGOs. Meanwhile, New York City is at the forefront of the sustainable materials movement, as the NYC Department of Environmental Protection partners with the Biomaterials Coalition to promote biodegradable materials in construction, further bolstered by events like Biomaterials Week 2023. The NYC Economic Development Corporation is investing $5 million in grants to support local startups focused on environmentally friendly material development, all part of the city’s ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. During Climate Week 2024, occurring from September 23 to September 29 in New York City, One Earth convened leaders from various sectors to address urgent climate challenges, launching the “One Earth Climate Action Plan,” which aims to mobilize $100 billion in financing for climate resilience projects in developing countries and emphasizing the need for a $1 trillion annual investment in renewable energy to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is spearheading a new initiative to deploy 10,000 solar-powered refrigerators in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia by 2025, funded by a $5 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to reduce food spoilage and enhance cold chain logistics for perishable goods, thereby empowering communities in countries such as Kenya, Bangladesh, and Nigeria while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Recent developments in renewable energy underscore a significant global shift towards cleaner power sources, with a study from the University of Surrey revealing that solar energy has emerged as the world’s most affordable power source, with costs plummeting to an average of $0.05 per kilowatt-hour. This trend is projected to drive global installed solar capacity beyond 2,000 gigawatts by 2025, fueled by investments from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and government initiatives targeting carbon emissions reduction. In Hawaii, over 100,000 homes now boast rooftop solar systems, reflecting a 50% increase since 2019, as part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative’s ambitious goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045; currently, solar energy contributes approximately 17% of the state’s electricity generation, with Maui leading in installations. Meanwhile, China has positioned itself as a global leader in clean technology exports, reaching $100 billion in 2022—outpacing the United States’ fossil fuel exports at $85 billion—highlighting a strategic shift towards solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles that could challenge U.S. energy dominance. In California, energy regulators are contemplating a directive to secure 6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2026 to mitigate potential supply shortfalls and maintain renewable energy credits critical for the state’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. Concurrently, researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia have achieved a breakthrough in solar cell technology using perovskite materials, reaching a record efficiency of 29.15%, which could revolutionize residential energy production and support Australia’s objective of 100% renewable energy by 2030, backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).